Bayern's defense makes history at CSKA

In a battle near the top of the standings, FC Bayern Munich defeated CSKA Moscow 66-69 at Megasport Arena on Friday. Fifth-place Bayern improved its record to 14-9, while second-place CSKA dropped to 16-7 with its third consecutive home loss, a first for the club in the EuroLeague this century. Wade Baldwin led the winners with 22 points, while D.J. Seeley added 17 and Jalen Reynolds 16. Nikola Milutinov scored 16 points for CSKA, while Darrun Hilliard had 15 and Toko Shengelia 11. Milutinov scored 14 of his in the first quarter, getting help from Toko Shengelia and Alexander Khomenko as CSKA led 27-25 after 10 minutes. Bayern went up by 39-40 at halftime and eventually 48-50, but CSKA ended the third quarter with a 12-0 run for a 60-50 margin. Bayern's defense held CSKA to 6 points in the fourth quarter and an outstanding Seeley stepped up to secure a good-as-gold road victory for the visitors.

Baldwin got Bayern going with a three-pointer but Milutinov and Shengelia soon gave CSKA a 4-3 lead. Reynolds followed a jumper with a layup and James Gist scored down low to flip the scoreboard to Bayern, 7-9 Bayern. Milutinov and Shengelia continued to combine for 17 points in just 8 minutes for an 18-13 CSKA edge. An unstoppable Milutinov even struck from downtown for just the second time in his EuroLeague career, getting help from Khomenko and Joel Bolomboy to keep the hosts ahead 27-25 after 10 minutes. Baldwin nailed back-to-back jumpers as Bayern retook a 27-29 advantage to start the second quarter. Daniel Hackett stepped up with a driving basket for CSKA and Johannes Voigtmann added a triple in transition. Bolomboy followed a floater with a huge dunk but Seeley and JaJuan Johnson kept the guests as close as 36-35. Bayern seized another lead as Paul Zipser struck from beyond the arc for Bayern and Baldwin dunked. but Hilliard struck from downtown to keep CSKA within 39-40 at halftime. Reynolds scored twice in the paint after the break but Shengelia and Hilliard returned a lead to the host, at 46-44. That didn't last, either, as Reynolds, Baldwin and Johnson shot the guests back in front, 48-50. that's when Hilliard took over with consecutive three-pointers. Voigtmann also struck from downtown and Shengelia converted a basket-plus-foul to suddenly give CSKA a double-digit cushion, 60-50, after 30 minutes. Baldwin followed a jumper with a backdoor slam early in the fourth quarter and Reynolds brought Bayern within 62-58. As CSKA went almost 7 minutes without a point. Seeley's jumper and free throws tied it with 3 minutes left and Nick Weiler-Babb capped a 0-11 run to put the guests ahead, 62-63. Hackett rescued CSKA with a layup that Seeley bettered with a bomb from downtown. Voigtmann sank a turnaround jumper but Reynolds answered with a layup for a 66-68 Bayern edge in the final minute. Seeley drew a foul with 7.1 seconds to go and split attempts, and Hilliard's 12-meter shot went in and out, allowing Bayern to celebrate the win.

Pivotal performer

D.J. Seeley made the right plays down the stretch and gave Bayern a big boost off the bench. He finished the game with 17 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 fouls drawn for a PIR of 20.

Game-changing moment

CSKA led 62-52 early in the fourth quarter but Bayern kept the Russian powerhouse scoreless for 7 minutes. Meanwhile, Wade Baldwin and Jalen Reynolds fueled an 0-11 run that Nick Weiler-Babb capped with a free throw to put Bayern ahead, 62-63. That allowed Seeley to take care of business down the stretch.

Stellar stat

Bayern held CSKA to just 6 points in the fourth quarter. That is CSKA's lowest total in any quarter at home this century, not to mention the fewest points it has scored in a fourth quarter anywhere and its second-lowest scoring quarter of any kind, anywhere. Only last season, when CSKA managed just 4 points in the third quarter of a 72-59 loss at Olympiacos Piraeus, have fewer points fell for the Russian giant in one quarter.

Did you know?

It was Bayern's first-ever win against CSKA. The teams had faced each other seven times until now, and CSKA had won all seven. CSKA has now lost both of its home games against German squads this season, after previously registering an 88-93 defeat against ALBA Berlin on October 16.

Next game

CSKA returns to EuroLeague next week with a Round 24 visit to Valencia Basket on Thursday. A day later, Bayern hosts ALBA Berlin in an all-German EuroLeague derby.